@arukimania.bsky.social
Later in the day, I walked my way around The Path - an underground series of passages running through Toronto, with lots of shops and connections to subway stations, as well as other specific locations.
October 20, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Later in the day, I walked my way around The Path - an underground series of passages running through Toronto, with lots of shops and connections to subway stations, as well as other specific locations.
I also walked through a nice park, where I could really appreciate the autumn colors.
October 20, 2025 at 12:25 PM
I also walked through a nice park, where I could really appreciate the autumn colors.
I spent some time wandering the city today, and ran into the route of the Toronto marathon. Would’ve been great to see my friend compete, as was the original plan, but it was still fun to cheer on participants for a bit.
October 20, 2025 at 12:22 PM
I spent some time wandering the city today, and ran into the route of the Toronto marathon. Would’ve been great to see my friend compete, as was the original plan, but it was still fun to cheer on participants for a bit.
I got to spend another great day with my Canadian friend yesterday, where we explored some nice cafes and other in Toronto. Towards the end of the day, we headed over to this new park. It was beautiful!
October 19, 2025 at 8:42 AM
I got to spend another great day with my Canadian friend yesterday, where we explored some nice cafes and other in Toronto. Towards the end of the day, we headed over to this new park. It was beautiful!
After checking out of my hotel in Japan, I had some time to kill before heading to the airport, so I stopped in this branch of a sweets shop/cafe called Cozy Corner and got a cake set with their original tea blend. It was delicious!
October 18, 2025 at 6:28 AM
After checking out of my hotel in Japan, I had some time to kill before heading to the airport, so I stopped in this branch of a sweets shop/cafe called Cozy Corner and got a cake set with their original tea blend. It was delicious!
I spent basically all day at the Nihon Minkaen yesterday. It’s a collection of the folk houses of old Japan, many of which you can go inside. It really helped put into perspective what ordinary life was like through much of Japanese history. Also the whole area was beautiful.
October 16, 2025 at 10:35 PM
I spent basically all day at the Nihon Minkaen yesterday. It’s a collection of the folk houses of old Japan, many of which you can go inside. It really helped put into perspective what ordinary life was like through much of Japanese history. Also the whole area was beautiful.
Finally, I wandered the Futakotamagawa area again in preparation for having another dinner with my old friend. I’m coming to the end of my time in Japan, but it’s been a great trip!
October 15, 2025 at 11:02 PM
Finally, I wandered the Futakotamagawa area again in preparation for having another dinner with my old friend. I’m coming to the end of my time in Japan, but it’s been a great trip!
After a lot of deliberation and test-writing, I ultimately decided to get a Platinum Izumo Tamenuri in red (akatame). It should make for a nice, lasting souvenir of this trip that I’ll be using for years to come.
October 15, 2025 at 10:55 PM
After a lot of deliberation and test-writing, I ultimately decided to get a Platinum Izumo Tamenuri in red (akatame). It should make for a nice, lasting souvenir of this trip that I’ll be using for years to come.
By this point in my trip, I was pretty tired of shopping, so I decided to return to Shosaikan to make a purchase I’d been weighing up this whole time, when I ran into a familiar sign. Apparently, Harney & Sons has a shop not too far from Shibuya station! I got a hot Peach & Ginger tea.
October 15, 2025 at 10:39 PM
By this point in my trip, I was pretty tired of shopping, so I decided to return to Shosaikan to make a purchase I’d been weighing up this whole time, when I ran into a familiar sign. Apparently, Harney & Sons has a shop not too far from Shibuya station! I got a hot Peach & Ginger tea.
After Itoya, I headed over to the Kakimori store, where I really appreciated how everything was oriented towards trying things out. They had paper samples with various writing instruments, writing instruments with various test papers, and more! They even had a build-your-own notebook setup!
October 15, 2025 at 10:28 PM
After Itoya, I headed over to the Kakimori store, where I really appreciated how everything was oriented towards trying things out. They had paper samples with various writing instruments, writing instruments with various test papers, and more! They even had a build-your-own notebook setup!
I spent a good deal of time yesterday making my final stops at stationery shops. The first place I headed was Itoya in Ginza, which I feel I was overhyped for after reading about it online. Still, they did have lots of nice stuff! My favorite was (obviously) the third floor with fancy pens.
October 15, 2025 at 10:17 PM
I spent a good deal of time yesterday making my final stops at stationery shops. The first place I headed was Itoya in Ginza, which I feel I was overhyped for after reading about it online. Still, they did have lots of nice stuff! My favorite was (obviously) the third floor with fancy pens.
After I arrived at my final hotel in Japan, I headed over to a nice plaza around Futakotamagawa Station to meet another old friend for dinner. We had a great time wandering the area and checking out a few shops.
October 14, 2025 at 9:40 PM
After I arrived at my final hotel in Japan, I headed over to a nice plaza around Futakotamagawa Station to meet another old friend for dinner. We had a great time wandering the area and checking out a few shops.
After enjoying my time back in Hachinohe greatly, I made the return trip to the Tokyo area yesterday. Also, I’m pleased to see the Tohoku Shinkansen still has a food/drink cart come by for regular passengers. That’s a service no longer available on the Tokaido Shinkansen or the NEX.
October 14, 2025 at 9:37 PM
After enjoying my time back in Hachinohe greatly, I made the return trip to the Tokyo area yesterday. Also, I’m pleased to see the Tohoku Shinkansen still has a food/drink cart come by for regular passengers. That’s a service no longer available on the Tokaido Shinkansen or the NEX.
I then ended my day with some Aomori apple juice. This stuff, made with 100% apple juice from Aomori apples (it doesn’t necessarily have to be Wonder Apple brand), is possibly the best apple juice in the world. You can immediately taste a difference between it and other apple juices.
October 14, 2025 at 12:54 AM
I then ended my day with some Aomori apple juice. This stuff, made with 100% apple juice from Aomori apples (it doesn’t necessarily have to be Wonder Apple brand), is possibly the best apple juice in the world. You can immediately taste a difference between it and other apple juices.
We got some gelato at s nice little shop by the base of the mountain, and then my friend drive me back into Hachinohe. It was great being able to catch up!
October 14, 2025 at 12:50 AM
We got some gelato at s nice little shop by the base of the mountain, and then my friend drive me back into Hachinohe. It was great being able to catch up!
My friend taught me a cool trick using my iPhone’s camera for taking shots using the 3x lens. I think these close-ups came out well as a result! Not that I really know that much about what I’m photographing😅
October 14, 2025 at 12:47 AM
My friend taught me a cool trick using my iPhone’s camera for taking shots using the 3x lens. I think these close-ups came out well as a result! Not that I really know that much about what I’m photographing😅
Next up was a short hike up Mt. Hashikami from its eighth station. You can see the leaves just starting to change color here.
October 14, 2025 at 12:42 AM
Next up was a short hike up Mt. Hashikami from its eighth station. You can see the leaves just starting to change color here.
I started my day yesterday by doing a quick run through Hacchi, the Hachinohe Portal Museum, then headed over to an old favorite cafe (Minami) in a new location to meet up with a friend.
October 14, 2025 at 12:37 AM
I started my day yesterday by doing a quick run through Hacchi, the Hachinohe Portal Museum, then headed over to an old favorite cafe (Minami) in a new location to meet up with a friend.
Revisited my favorite stationery store! Back when I was living in Hachinohe, this place (the Kaneiri connected to Sakurano) is where I bought my first fountain pen and learned to love fine writing materials (there’s nothing like trying before you buy). I’m happy to see it’s still going strong!
October 12, 2025 at 11:21 PM
Revisited my favorite stationery store! Back when I was living in Hachinohe, this place (the Kaneiri connected to Sakurano) is where I bought my first fountain pen and learned to love fine writing materials (there’s nothing like trying before you buy). I’m happy to see it’s still going strong!
Finally, some photos specifically for my dad, featuring more treats I’ve been enjoying lately.
October 12, 2025 at 1:07 AM
Finally, some photos specifically for my dad, featuring more treats I’ve been enjoying lately.
Here’s the info on each act from a sign outside the space they were using as a stage:
鷹島姫乃
［和風ポールダンス］
LEO
［ジャグリング一輪車パフォーマンス］
鷹島姫乃
［和風ポールダンス］
LEO
［ジャグリング一輪車パフォーマンス］
October 12, 2025 at 1:03 AM
Here’s the info on each act from a sign outside the space they were using as a stage:
鷹島姫乃
［和風ポールダンス］
LEO
［ジャグリング一輪車パフォーマンス］
鷹島姫乃
［和風ポールダンス］
LEO
［ジャグリング一輪車パフォーマンス］
I was in for one late-in-the-day surprise, though, because when I got to downtown Hachinohe, I caught two street shows in progress. One featured Japanese-style pole dancing and the other was a juggling act that included unicycle riding. I’ve been really lucky running into events this trip!
October 12, 2025 at 12:59 AM
I was in for one late-in-the-day surprise, though, because when I got to downtown Hachinohe, I caught two street shows in progress. One featured Japanese-style pole dancing and the other was a juggling act that included unicycle riding. I’ve been really lucky running into events this trip!
That brings me to yesterday, which was essentially a full day of travel. I got on a Shinkansen leaving Kumamoto at 7:42 AM and got off after three transfers at Hachinohe at 5:04 PM. That’s almost ten hours on the train! I love that you can do it, though. Japan’s public transit is amazing!
October 12, 2025 at 12:51 AM
That brings me to yesterday, which was essentially a full day of travel. I got on a Shinkansen leaving Kumamoto at 7:42 AM and got off after three transfers at Hachinohe at 5:04 PM. That’s almost ten hours on the train! I love that you can do it, though. Japan’s public transit is amazing!
My final stop for the day was the promenade outside the Kumamoto Prefectural Offices. This is where they have the Luffy statue on display, and this one also has an imprint of ONE PIECE author Eiichiro Oda’s hand.
October 12, 2025 at 12:44 AM
My final stop for the day was the promenade outside the Kumamoto Prefectural Offices. This is where they have the Luffy statue on display, and this one also has an imprint of ONE PIECE author Eiichiro Oda’s hand.
After the Josaien shopping district, I visited the last place included in my ticket for Kumamoto Castle: the Kumamoto City Museum. I couldn’t get many photos, but this train that ran for 33 years on the local Houhi line (after 14 years as a freight car) was but one of many cool things on display.
October 12, 2025 at 12:38 AM
After the Josaien shopping district, I visited the last place included in my ticket for Kumamoto Castle: the Kumamoto City Museum. I couldn’t get many photos, but this train that ran for 33 years on the local Houhi line (after 14 years as a freight car) was but one of many cool things on display.